Irritable bowel syndrome is a frequently diagnosed condition in this country. Approximately 10 to 20% of people have this condition. Women account for almost 70% of this group. This condition causes explosive diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain as well as other symptoms. There is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome so one of the best and easiest ways to treat this condition is through the irritable bowel syndrome diet.

The irritable bowel syndrome diet helps to alleviate the symptoms of IBS. It may not completely cure the condition but it will space the attacks out so they are not as frequent. One of the main things that need to be removed from your diet as much as possible is high fat foods. Fat causes a violent reaction in the colon which can cause either constipation or violent diarrhoea.

It can either cause the colon to freeze up causing constipation, or cause it to contract spastically which will cause diarrhoea. Other areas you may want to cut back on are coffee, chocolate, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and caffeine as they are all either stimulants or irritants, and therefore, they cause your GI tract to either be stimulated or irritated which can cause an attack. The irritable bowel syndrome diet concentrates on eating healthy foods to reduce your symptoms as there is no cure for IBS.

The irritable bowel syndrome diet also suggests eating either small, frequent meals, or eating smaller portions of your three meals. Large, fat filled meals only serve to irritate your stomach and cause stomach pain, diarrhoea or constipation. Healthy and conscientious eating should be your main goal. Fruits, vegetables, lean meat and whole grain breads will help your stomach to stay on a balanced plane so that you will not have as many flare-ups.

Some physicians suggest adding fiber to your irritable bowel syndrome diet to reduce symptoms. Fiber such as apples, peaches, raw broccoli and carrots, cabbage, and peas as well as kidney and lima beans and whole-grain breads and cereals will round out your diet. Eat the fiber first when your stomach is empty to help reduce the symptoms. You may be thinking that there is no way you can follow the irritable bowel syndrome diet but once you learn what you can and cannot eat then you will be able to reduce your symptoms and learn your "triggers."

All in all, the irritable bowel syndrome diet is about eating healthy. If you make the effort to stay away from "trigger foods" and to eat small portioned, healthy, and low fat meals then hopefully there will be a decrease in your symptoms. This does not mean you have to stay away from restaurants or eating what you want to follow the irritable bowel syndrome diet it just means you need to make smarter choices to keep from having as many attacks. It is up to you and your stomach!